Puzzle.



JAMES E.

SMITH, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PUZZLE.

Specification of Let cers Patent. Patented Feb, 6, 11917., Application filed January 14, 1916. Serial No. 72,062.

parts. A puzzle board made in this man To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs SMITH, citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of ltlaryland, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which I have illustrated one form or embodiment thereof and the said invention is fully disclosed in tie following description and claim.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved puzzle.

Fig. 2 is a struck ing the method of and partition walls.

This invention relates to a puzzle or amusement device, based upon the present European war, although the apparatus may be modified to represent other contestants if desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention. One of its objects, is the provision of a game apparatus, which will be both entertaining and instructive and which at the same time, calls for a skilful and deXterous manipulation of the game board.

A further object of my invention is to provide a puzzle, to which the name Ketch the Kiser has been given, and comprising a receptacle, preferably a rectangular tray having a runway for rolling objects, such as marbles which are diflerently colored to represent the contestants, and a plurality of walled inclosures in separated re lation, which have oppositely arranged openings, the device being susceptible 01 such manipulation that it is possible to cause the marbles, after having been initially placed in the runway (represent ing the battlefield), to be moved c0nsecu tively through each of the walled inclosures and to be finally assembled in the last walled inclosure (or capital city of one of the belligerents).

A still further object is to zle which may be made entirely of cardboard or the like by cutting the same in proper form and properly assembling the out perspective, showmalnng the puzzle box provide a puzner will be inexpensive in construction and easily assembled.

In the drawing, 1

represents a tray which consists of a bottom 2, end walls 3 and side walls 4-, which may be made in any suitable manner and of any desired material.

5 designates a supplemental bottom, or bottom lining which is adapted to be secured to the top surface of the tray bottom 2, and is provided with a died out, or cut through slot or aperture 6, which forms a tongue 7, connected to the main portion or runway 8, by the uncut portion 9. Another tongue 10 is cut out from the tongue 7 by a cut or slot 11, the uncut portion 12 conneoting the tongue 10 to the tongue 7, being arranged diametrically opposite the uncut portion 9.

An outer walled inclosure 13 which is adapted to be placed within the tray is formed by bending a strip 14, at the points 15, and providing its bottom edge with adhesive and inserting the same in the slot 6, the adhesive adhering to the top surface of the bottom 2, and to the walls of the slot. The strip 14 does not form a continuously walled inclosure, but has a space or opening 16 at one end which lies above the uncut portion 9, of the bottom lining.

Another walled inclosure 17, is provided within the inclosure 13, and is formed by bending a strip 18 into proper form and providing one end of the inclosure with a space or opening 19. The lower edges of this inclosure are also dipped in adhesive and then inserted in the slot or cut 11, of the supplemental bottom, the opening 19 being arranged above the uncut portion 12 and diametrically opposite the opening 16.

20, 21, 22 and 23 are differently colored marbles or spheres which represent the warring nations and the puzzle is solved by placing all of the belligerents in the runway 8, and so manipulating the tray as to first cause one or more of the marbles (representing say one side or contestant) to pass through the opening 16 into its own territory 24, and finally through the opening 19 into the inclosure 17, which represents its capital. The marbles or spheres representing the enemies are then caused to follow in order, without permitting the belligerents in the capital city or inclosure 17, to es cape.

It will be apparent that any number of ing the contestants may walled inclosures having oppositely ar ranged openings, may be employed if desired, or any number of marbles representbe used Within the scope of the invention.

A cover 25 for the tray is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 upon the underside of which may be placed directions for solving or operating the puzzle and a description of the units comprising the opposing forces.

What I claim and desire to secure by ters Patent is V In a puzzle apparatus, a tray, a supplemental bottom provided in said tray and having cut out slots forming a plurality of Let- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the opposite the point at which the outer tongue is connected to the main'body, and Walled one of which is arranged Within inclosures provided With oppositely disposed openings and having their lower edges inserted in said slots and engaging the edges of said tongues, the lower edges of said inclosures being secured to the upper surface of the bottom of the tray.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 7

JAMES E. SMITH.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

